Universal Compassionate Love as a Psychospiritual Framework for Understanding the Effects of Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation: A Theoretical Review

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21352286

Mohan Singh¹, Himalaya Tiwari², Bodhraj Kumkaria³, and O.P. Sharma⁴ (Department of Psychology, Magadh University, Bodhgaya, Bihar1,2, Department of Psychology, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi³, and Department of Psychology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan⁴)

Buddhist Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) also known as Metta Bhāvanā (Benevolent concern and compassion), is a contemplative practice to develop unconditional goodwill, compassion and benevolent concern for both oneself and others. There are increasing indications that LKM can improve emotional functioning, psychological well-being and physiology. This is a theoretical review of the effects of LKM on compassion-related outcomes, psychological well-being and stress biomarkers. The review adopts the Buddhist psychology framework and suggests that a higher-order psychospiritual framework called Universal Compassionate Love (UCL) is based on the four Brahmavihāras: Metta (loving-kindness), Karuṇā (compassion), Muditā (sympathetic joy), and Upekkhā (equanimity). In this context, compassion, self-compassion, empathy, compassionate love and social connectedness are viewed as expressions of a more general attitude of universal caring and connectedness. The review also looks at the role of LKM in hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing and how it may help regulate stress, including cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV). It is proposed that LKM develops the Brahmavihāras, develops UCL, improves psychological well-being and facilitates adaptive stress regulation in an integrative model. The review offers a detailed roadmap to help understand the various impacts of LKM and where future research may be needed.